Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 27 September, 2016 2:04 am |

 InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Hotel Properties Limited (“HPL”) to open a new InterContinental® resort on the island of Maamunagau in the Maldives. The 83-room InterContinental® Maldives Maamunagau Resort will mark the brand's entry into the Maldives when it opens. 

 

This is the third resort that IHG has in partnership with HPL. The Singapore-based property owner and developer also owns Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives and Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu. 

 

Maamunagau island is located at the southern point of Raa Atoll (North Maalhosmadulu Atoll). International travellers can take a seaplane directly to the resort from Male's Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. 

 

Maldives is a popular travel destination for leisure travellers from the Middle East. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Maldives, the number of visitors from the region grew by 19.4% during the first six months in 2016 compared to the same period last year.

 

Guests planning a quiet getaway will enjoy the clear lagoon and a pristine white beach at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort. Guests will have a range of food and beverage to choose from at the resort's bar and restaurants which includes an all day dining restaurant. Young travellers can indulge in specially tailored meals from the InterContinental Planet Trekkers Menu before going off for an afternoon of fun at the Planet Trekkers Kids Club. 

 

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will also feature a Club Lounge, pool and spa where guests can lounge and relax. Adrenaline-seekers will enjoy the wide range of water sports such as snorkeling, canoeing and jet skiing at the nearby sea sports centre. 

 

Jan Smits, Chief Executive Officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), IHG, said "Tourism in the Maldives has been a major contributor to its economy, contributing more than 40 percent of the country's GDP last year, and sentiments are positive as the country continues to be one of the world's most highly sought after travel destinations. It is a great time to be bringing our InterContinental brand into the Maldives.”

 

“In growing our brands' presence it is always important we look for the right partner and we are delighted to be working with HPL to bring our luxury brand, InterContinental into the country." 

 

Stephen Lau, Chairman, HPL Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd, said: "As part of our growth strategy we continuously seek the right opportunity to expand our portfolio across the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean region. We see huge potential to grow our resorts business in the Maldives and Maamunagau island is the perfect setting to develop a luxury InterContinental resort. We've been working with IHG for almost seven years and they have been excellent partners. We look forward to bringing another great resort to life, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, in partnership with IHG.

 

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the largest luxury hotel brand globally. Across the Middle East, there are 25 InterContinental properties open and an additional 9 properties due to open within the next three to five years*.